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Friday, March 30, 2012

What do you do with your layouts when you have finished? Do you immediately put it in the scrapbook or does it hang around the desk, maybe getting bent corners or dusty? Have you seen our Work in Progress Albums? I have two of these. When I finish a layout, I don’t usually put it in its album. Why? Because I sometimes have journaling to finish or I want to finish a companion page, or I wait until I have lots of completed pages to add to the album all at once. So, I put them in my work in progress album. When I complete multiple pages, I will then organize them in the order I want and put them in the album.

Another use for these albums is to organize your photos and papers in preparation for a crop. You can add the photo pages and to show you your photos and then the 12 x 12 page protectors for your paper or started layout with maybe a sketch.

Think about how a work in progress album will help you organize your scrapbooking. And, while you are reading this, I am at a crop…with my work in progress album, scrapbooking with my friends.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

I saw this on Pinterest and thought it was a great idea. My nephew graduated last weekend so I got out an old frame and whipped it together. The Typeset paper packet was perfect for the theme and the Newsprint Rub On’s made the project go together quickly. I love how it turned out! Now the question is, what is his definition of “emergency”!

Monday, March 26, 2012

My team is full of potential! I have seen it burst during this challenge and here is reward card I made for week four. I used the March stamp of the month, “Potential.” The first is made with the Stella paper packet, Lagoon ink, and opaque pearls. The second is made using the Mischief paper pack from the Fall 2011 idea book, black ink and opaque pearls.

Just a reminder about the stamp of the month offer! Every month, Close to My Heart offers a unique stamp set that is available only during that month. Don’t miss it. You can purchase it for $17.95 but even better when you have a $50 purchase, you can get it for $5. So, check each month and if you like it, get it!

Friday, March 23, 2012

Yes, back on March 5 I posted a photo of the Memory Box made into a puzzle. I did have a contest and drew names from those who made suggestions for how they might use the Memory Box. Two participants:
1) Jessica: I've had my eye on making into an alphabet set or something related to counting.
I was thinking educational/fun for my son.
2) Lalia: I've thought of making a mini album of our extended family that we only see a
couple times a year. This would be perfect!

Well, I did the random number thing and Jessica is the winner! Delivery planned for team time next week! Thanks for playing my friends!

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

For 6 weeks now, I have been working with another leader on a team challenge for our downline. It has been fun to work with Chris Green and to watch my team take on the challenge and grow. There have been many successes and rewards! Each week, the participants totaled their points and when they emailed me their total, they have been promised a handmade goodie from me. This is one of the cards I made as a reward.

Lucy papers are beautiful! The new paper flowers and the rhinestone brads are perfect embellishments that accentuate the paper design. The stamp is from the February Stamp of the month and I stamp in Grey Wool instead of black for a softer color.

This is another one of those “hidden” products in the Spring / Summer Idea book. Actually, it was also in the Fall/Winter. It is a card box with magnetic flap to keep the treasures securely inside. For Christmas this past year, I wanted to give my family the time of being together and doing activities that we might not normally do or that have been on the list for awhile.

I created this box after I fell in love with the box Vicki created in the fall. I put in an envelope for each month, with the exception of June through September which I labeled “summer.” You never really know when you are going to be able to participate in the summer events in the Northwest.

Each month lists an activity and specific tickets or gift cards for the activities. So far we have gone to see Annie Get Your Gun in January and taken a sleigh ride in Feb. March is Random Acts of Kindness day and April is Tea Time. I am looking forward to spending time with the family each month!

I am hoping that after a year of adventures, I will make a mini album of our family adventures to keep in the box.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Earlier this month, Close to My Heart announced that they will be discontinuing some of the current products. Some of these are my absolute favorites that I use them all the time. I can’t imagine paper crafting without them.
Below are the items. If you have enjoyed these items, and want to stock up or make sure you don’t miss an issue or color, order now!
How-To Books $21.95 each
Card pattern books (Wishes & Originals) (Originals is sold out)
Scrapbook pattern books (Cherish, Imagine, Magic) (Reflections is sold out)

Monday, March 12, 2012

Looking through the new Spring/Summer 2012 Idea book can be a bit of a treasure hunt. In the back on pages 130-131, all the products are shown in white. These items are full of possibility! Below is the bookmark mini album. I used the paper packet and Complements from Stella to create this album about my daughter and her horse. I will be teaching this workshop at my upcoming retreat. It is so fun to make. You can host your own workshop with friends or purchase your mini album here.

Friday, March 9, 2012

The stamp of the month is titled Potential. Don’t you just love the name! Motivating! Anyway, here is what I have created using Potential.

I created the bag using the Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge for a gal who is planning to join my team! I thought the “Anything is possible” sentiment was perfect.

This card is a challenge reward for my team members who participated in week three. Again, I used the AP Cricut cartridge for the flowers, flourishes and the sentiment shape. I just love that cartridge.

Want to see more with this set? Follow this blog hop of talented consultants. And remember, this stamp set can be purchased for $17.95 only during the month of March and for $5 with a $50 purchase! Contact me to order yours today.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Last month during our winter snow storm, I had my Cricut running all day long for an entire week…or so it seemed. I had so much fun having the extended opportunity to play with it and even figure out a few tricks.

First, I know there is a special tool that helps to stick the paper to the mat, kind of looks like my pan scraper in the kitchen. You can buy one from Cricut or use your kitchen scraper but I found my brayer while I was searching for something and knew immediately I could put it to use. So, my clean brayer has become a permanent fixture next to my Cricut and when I lay the paper on the sheet, I roll the brayer over it to make sure it sticks!

Second, I was cutting out pieces for a card class and found it tricky and time consuming to cut all the different pieces to be layer on a circle card. My solution? I decided to adhere the strips of paper onto a larger cardstock sheet and then place my blade and cut the full circle. You can see the 3 strips of paper in this photo.

And they were cut in a circle to make this card here (paper is different but you can see the three different strips on the background. (I know the card is turned. I was trying to highlight the strips by showing the card and paper in the same directions.)

Here you can see what it looks like after the cuts and removal of one of the circles for the card.

I did the same for this card. It has three different pieces as the background so I again adhered all three pieces on my larger cardstock paper and cut the circle for the card. I had to carefully place the cutting blade each time to get the correct pattern. I must admit, each one was a bit different but it WORKED! I can’t wait to have another circle card class and try this again.

Monday, March 5, 2012

In the fall, Close to My Heart began selling this “Memory Game” box. It had a strong magnetic closure and contains 24 3x3 tiles inside ripe for your creative juices! Sara Batkin had created a cute puzzle with hers and I had a couple of favorite photos from our trip to the Italy in 2008 that I thought would be perfect for my own puzzle. This is of the Amalfi Coast, the trip down the windy road to a small village on the sea cliffs and then a typical store front found as we walked through the village.

The small paper flowers on the top are cut from the Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge and the paper covering the box is from the Elemental Paper Packet.

Now, what would you do with your box? Make it a game, countdown calendar, recipe box? I would love to hear your ideas. Leave me a note with your idea and I will draw a random participant from the comments. The winner will get their own Memory Game puzzle box from me for free! Drawing will be held on March 15th.

Friday, March 2, 2012

When I made the topiary’s for the Tea Party in early February, I had some extra roses. I didn’t want to let the extra go to waste! So, when I saw this on Pinterest I knew exactly what I wanted to do!

So I made this…

I used the heavy chipboard and inked the edges with Grey Wool like I did here and then I covered it with the worded paper from Lucy. I used the AP Cricut cartridge to cut out a large heart from the pink background Lucy paper as a “guide” for the shape. It also serves the purpose of “hiding” any white space . Although I have not yet done it, I am thinking of putting pearls or sparkles in the center of the roses. Can’t decide which…what do you think? Pearls or sparkles?

About Me

I have discovered my creativity through stamping, scrapbooking and paper crafting. I enjoy showing others how to use Close to My Heart products to find their creative side. Join me in feeling successful in your creativity.